CSI2* Roosendaal
Netherlands

Bost blasts to Estoril victory after upsets for top riders

Friday, 13 July 2012

Bosty secured another GCT win for the season - this time in Estoril. Photo by Sportfot/GCT.Speed demon Roger-Yves Bost clocked up another Global Champions Tour win taking first place in the opening Table A 5* class in Estoril, Portugal. The French rider hit the pedal in classic style on Castle Forbes Cosma, jumping clear in 58.68 and putting it all down to “experience”. There were moments of sporting drama as two of his key challengers had surprise problems on their rounds. Christian Ahlmann and Sergio Alvarez Moya were both at the end of the running order and in with a good chance of seizing victory from Roger-Yves.

But Ahlmann’s gelding Firth of Clyde had a sharp refusal at the very first fence and was almost unseated. And Sergio almost came off after his horse Sirius stumbled after the GCT upright. Sergio made a brilliant recovery but Sirius was clearly unsettled and put in a stop at the double combination.

German rider Mario Stevens, in his first GCT Estoril, came second with a smooth, quick clear in 59.63 on Corlanda OLD. Italian Emanuele Gaudiano on Admara 2 was third on 62.74 and Britain’s Laura Renwick on Roller Coaster was in fourth on 63.78.

After his lap of honour Roger-Yves said: “I would say it is about experience. I started very young riding ponies very fast and I know the speed classes well. My horse is so fast I don’t have to take risks.”Mario Stevens commented: “I had a really good round. I saw Roger-Yves so I just tried to jump really good. It is my first time at the GCT Estoril and it is great.”

It is also British rider Laura Renwick’s first appearance on the Global Champions Tour circuit. Her horses travelled to Portugal with Ben Maher’s horses and she said of her fourth place result: “The arena footing is superb, it felt really good for the horse. It is a beautiful location. My ambition is to do reach higher up the world ranking so I can take part in as many GCT shows as I can. I am thrilled to be here.”

Frank Rothenberger’s course, in particular the green and white oxer and the Massimo Dutti upright, caused upsets for some of the top riders including Marco Kutscher, Ludger Beerbaum, Julien Epaillard, Michael Whitaker and Philipp Weishaupt. But there were some impressive clears from Pius Schwizer, leading US rider Lauren Hough on her celebrity horse Quickstudy and Denis Lynch from Ireland.